The Names They Gave Us

by Emery Lord

4.13 • 5,318 votes • 1,118 reviews

Published 15 May2018

The Names They Gave Us.pdf

Format

Paperback

Pages

416

Edition

9

Publisher

Bloomsbury YA

ISBN

1681195925

ISBN13

9781681195926

Language

eng

Lucy Hansson was ready for a perfect summer with her boyfriend, working at her childhood Bible camp on the lake. But when her mom’s cancer reappears, Lucy falters—in faith, in love, and in her ability to cope. When her boyfriend “pauses” their relationship and her summer job switches to a different camp—one for troubled kids—Lucy isn’t sure how much more she can handle. Attempting to accept a new normal, Lucy slowly regains footing among her vibrant, diverse coworkers, Sundays with her mom, and a crush on a fellow counselor. But when long-hidden family secrets emerge, can Lucy set aside her problems and discover what grace really means?

The Names They Gave Us Reviews

may ➹ - The United States

3

Mon, 29 May 2017

All right. This will be short.I really enjoyed The Names They Gave Us! It was a light-but-not-too-light contemporary, and I liked that. BUT I do think that the reason I liked it as much as I did was because of Anna, Keely, Jones/Henry (I CANNOT CALL HIM HENRY FOR SOME REASON), and Mohan. If those four didn't exist, along with Camp Daybreak, I WOULDN'T HAVE CARED ABOUT THIS BOOK. They are honestly EVERYTHING in the book -- so intriguing, hilarious, and just AMAZING. (I also really enjoyed Rachel's sarcasm.)Lucy. Hmm. I relate to her because I share the whole mom-has-cancer thing... except my mom's cancer hasn't made a comeback yet so I don't know how THAT part feels. However, besides the cancer aspect, I really didn't find myself connecting to her much??? I mean the only reason I actually liked her was probably because [spoilers removed] Well, I'm sure I liked her for other reasons??? I just can't think of them...BUT ALSO. THAT ENDING. HOW DARE EMERY LORD LEAVE US ON A CLIFFHANGER LIKE THAT??? Does anyone know if there's a sequel??? BECAUSE I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO LUCY'S MOM.So yeah. Basically, if Anna, Jones, Keely, and Mohan weren't there... this book wouldn't have gotten three stars. Characters are honestly EVERYTHING for me, and this book just proves my case.

Andi (Andi's ABCs) - Boston, MA

5

Thu, 28 Apr 2016

This review was originally posted on Andi's ABCsSometimes you read a book and you just don’t know what to even say about it. It is pretty much perfect in all the ways that surprise you yet don’t surprise you at all. It will make you feel things as you read, make you cry, make you laugh, make you swoon. That is what The Names They Gave Us did to me. In typically Emery Lord fashion I was blown away by this books beauty and realness.I’m not really sure how to describe what I felt and loved about this book. First and foremost I feel like I should say that this is what you would call a “cancer book” or even a “religion book”. Sure those are huge parts of Lucy’s story, parts of who Lucy is, but I don’t think those are the two things that end up defining her. What ends up defining Lucy is Lucy. She decides to open her mind and heart to new experiences and to new people. And Lucy decides it is okay to not trust in her faith, to be angry at the hand she has been dealt. To me that is really what The Names They Gave Us is all about, finding out who you are and want to be and being okay with it. Don’t get me wrong, Lucy’s mother having cancer is a major part of this story and truly broke my heart for Lucy, but that is just the beginning of her story. With the help of a new camp, new friends and a boy to mend her broken heart a new, stronger Lucy is born and that is the heart of the whole story. Well that and the friends Lucy makesLucy’s friends at the new camp are truly amazing and inspiring. They are all dealing with something whether it is anxiety or illness or abuse. They all have some kind of baggage but they also don’t carry that baggage alone. They let each other help and they rely on one another for support. It is the definition of a true friendship. And they willing, okay, some more than others, take Lucy into their fold which is something she needed desperately without even knowing it. And this isn’t even talking about the beauty that is Henry and what he adds to the change in Lucy. Gah. I’m smiling just thinking about Lucy and Henry. Truth, I’m not convinced Emery Lord is human. Okay well I know she is because I have met her, but still. The Names They Gave Us is Emery’s 4th book (I’ve been a massive fan since Open Road Summer) and her 4th book to completely blow me away. Every time I read a book by her I think her next one can’t be better and then I read the next one. It’s unfathomable yet she manages to do it every time. There is something just so magical about her books. I swear if you are not a fan yet you will be as soon as you read something with her name on it. Make sure you add The Names They Gave Us to your TBR.

Korrina - Vancouver, BC, Canada

5

Fri, 17 Jun 2016

Wow...that was fantastic! I really didn't think I would connect with this story because I usually shy away from stories focused on religion, but I was so wrong. This story was beautiful, heartbreaking and powerful. Definitely my favourite Emery Lord novel I've read. Highly recommend it!

Dannii - The United Kingdom

4

Wed, 26 Jul 2017

I have always found the faith of others to be a beautiful thing, but also something that has always been distant from my own life, asides from one summer when I was nine-years-old where I convinced myself I was going to become a nun after seeing Julie Andrews in 'The Sound of Music'. Through Lucy's exploration of Christianity the reader is invited to experience faith from an inside perspective. And through Lucy's loss of it we are also invited to analyse our own opinions and stance on religion. I have previously only ever viewed these aspects from a distance and admired the beauty of belief from a cursory level. Here, I was invited inside the fold, as it were, and truly got to experience what faith, and the loss of it, felt like.This was also a read inclusive of all other religions. And the diversity didn't stop there. This was truly a book in which every reader could find themselves in. The protagonist might represent one thing but a voice was given to so many other perspectives. It was heartening to see such a broad spectrum of individuals represented and this has such an important message to spread about the acceptance of difference.

Book Riot - The United States

0

Tue, 08 Aug 2017

I’ve shied away from contemporary YA over the last few years, only rarely dipping my toes back in if someone recs me a specific book. The subgenre has been dominated by first person narrators of late, and that’s something I often struggle to connect with, but I’m always looking for more YA to read. Emery Lord came highly recommended by a friend, so I jumped at the chance to read The Names They Gave Us. It was astonishing. This book is a very tough, emotional read handled with a deft touch and clean, beautiful prose. The world and its ensemble of characters are vivid and diverse, the dialogue is pitch perfect for teenagers, and the feelings ring incredibly true.— Kay Taylor Reafrom The Best Books We Read In April 2017: http://bookriot.com/2017/05/01/riot-r...